The sister of a man killed in his home wept as she described the moment she discovered his lifeless body lying in a pool of blood.

The remains of Marcell Seeley were found in the living room of his flat on October 13, 2015.

Mark Daniel Ward, 25, denies murdering the 34-year-old.

Mr Seeley's older sister Carrai Doran told Belfast Crown Court on Monday how she called at his Dingwell Park home in the Taghnevan estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh, after his mother raised concerns he hadn't been seen for several days.

She was unable to open the front door and asked local residents for help. They kicked it in and one entered the flat before coming back out and telling Ms Doran: "You don't want to see this."

Breaking down in tears, she told the jury she pushed past the man, walked into the living room and ended up standing beside her brother's body.

Ms Doran said: "There was blood on the back of his head and down onto the floor. It [the blood] came from his head down. There was a pool of blood on the ground."

When asked if she checked to see if her brother was still alive, she added: "I touched his hand and I knew straight away he wasn't."

Police seal off scene

Prosecution lawyers claim Ward, from Drumellan Gardens in the Moyraverty area of Craigavon, murdered Mr Seeley some time on the morning of Sunday, October 11, 2015.

The victim - described in court as an alcoholic - died from blunt force trauma to the head consistent with kicking or stamping.

A pathologist concluded he would have survived for several hours after the head injuries were inflicted.

Mr Seeley suffered multiple head injuries which caused heavy bleeding, particularly from his ear, as well as injuries to his neck and voicebox.

He also sustained two fractured ribs associated with forceful blows, stamps or kicks as well as bruises and abrasions to his upper body and all four limbs.

Prosecution lawyer David McDowell told the jury after hearing all of the evidence in the trial, they would be satisfied Ward murdered, or at the very least intended to cause grievous bodily harm, to the victim.

A neighbour of Mr Seeley's who lived in a block of flats opposite the murder scene said he spoke to the accused on the morning of October 11.

They claimed Ward appeared to be "heavily intoxicated", mentioned Mr Seeley and talked about "punching" him, and spoke about blood coming from an ear.

Mr McDowell told the court several footprints were left behind at the murder scene in either blood or spilt Buckfast which left a distinctive pattern.

There was one on Mr Seeley's shirt and the court heard this footprint, on the victim's shoulder, resulted in bruising to the underlying muscle which a pathologist concluded was caused "by a severe degree of force – such as a stamp".

A footwear expert - who will be called to give evidence later in the trial - concluded the footprint was caused by a size nine Base London trainer.

Mr McDowell claimed Ward was wearing a pair of size nine Base London trainers and these shoes have never been recovered - something he said "may be a matter of significance in a case in which kicking and stamping and blood splattering is alleged".

The lawyer told the court Ward was also linked to Mr Seeley's flat via DNA evidence. He said a cigarette butt bearing DNA matching the defendant's was located in the living room.

Forensic officers at scene

The accused was arrested at 9.30pm on October 13, 2015. He gave a largely "no comment" response but confirmed during the third interview he knew the victim and had drunk with him for around 10 years.

He also confirmed he had been in Mr Seeley's home but reverted back to "no comment" responses when asked if he had been in the flat that past week.

When questioned about the neighbour's claims he had been in his garden and talking about Mr Seeley on the Sunday morning, Ward branded this as "lies".